math-mom.com

Review: Learning Resources The Iguana Factor Multiplication Game

2007-03-19T21:33:21-07:00

For the child learning multiplication facts, this game is a mixture of memory work, strategy, and chance. The multiplication practice helps kids master their facts. Developing a winning strategy keeps the game interesting. The role of chance keeps everyone in the game until the last spin. Practice your facts and have some fun!

Review: Zometool Advanced Math Creator Kit

2007-03-02T22:49:03-08:00

When it’s hard to picture a three dimensional solid, make a model! With Zome, you’ll be able to create about any polyhedron you can imagine. As you build, you’ll be able to see relationships and patterns you wouldn’t have imagined. For the kinesthetic learner, there isn’t a better match. Zome Geometry: Hands-on Learning with Zome Models will give you ideas of many fascinating ideas to explore.

Review: Math Mat Challenge Game

2007-03-02T22:37:14-08:00

For those kids who find it hard to sit still and learn their math facts, this will give them a chance to move. They will have fun letting out some energy on a rainy day and you’ll be glad they can catch on to those facts.

Review: 4-Way Countdown Game

2007-01-05T22:30:42-08:00

Whatever your age, you’ll have fun creatively using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to become the winner! Since there are no cards, marbles, or other pieces to loose, our kids often play Countdown in the car. It’s a great way to spend a long ride.

Review: Sassy Stacking Cups

2006-12-31T20:52:12-08:00

Stack them up. Knock them down. Again and Again. Your baby learns by repetition. She’ll love to push them over. You’ll love it when she learns to stack them herself.

Review: Lacing Beads in a Box

2006-12-31T14:43:07-08:00

Thread the beads. Make a pretty design. Then try again another time. As they develop fine motor skills, toddlers will love to watch the pretty patterns they make.

Review: Large Shapes Jumbo Knobs

2006-12-31T14:36:04-08:00

You child will learn the names and characteristics of shapes as they try to place them correctly in the puzzle.

Review: HANDS-ON SOFT BASE TEN STARTER SET 100 UNITS 30 RODS 10 FLATS 1 CUBE

2006-11-19T22:06:24-08:00

This may be the most used manipulative in our home. Base ten blocks are my favorite for teaching place value and operations. I use them daily as my kids are learning to add, subtract, multiply, and divide with 1, 2, and 3 digit numbers. By physically regrouping base ten blocks, you can easily connect the symbols we use in arithmetic. If you are not familiar with them, you�ll want a book such as Base ten blocks: Activities.

Review: Lego Building Sets Make and Create Mindstorms NXT (8527)

2006-11-09T17:38:43-08:00

Introduce your child to programming by building a LEGO robot! Our sons and daughters (as young as 7 and old as 13) enjoy the set. Some like building. Others like programming. They all like LEGO!

Our kids have especially enjoyed being in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge each of the last three years. Not only have they learned more about designing robots to accomplish specific tasks, they’ve learned a great deal about teamwork.

This updated Mindstorms set just became available this fall. Don’t be fooled by a “good deal” on an old set. The new set is well worth the price. You can read about it here, on the LEGO Mindstorms web site.

Review: Young Scientists Set 4 - Bacteria and Fungi, Weight and Volume, Acids and Bases

2006-11-07T21:48:18-08:00

Wonder if what bacteria lingers around your house: on piano keys, telephones, computer keyboards? In this kit, your kids can grow bacteria they find. To learn about weight and volume, they can make a scale. They’ll test PH levels to learn about acids and bases. As with all young scientist kits, my young kids look forward to the experiments, and I look forward to having the supplies in the box. Common household items, needed but included, are clearly identified.

Review: Set 3: Minerals, Geodes, Fossils

2006-11-07T21:40:22-08:00

The young scientist club provides all the supplies you need as well as kid friendly handouts and helpful teacher notes. In these three kits, kids identify mineral samples, grow several types of crystals, and pretend to make fossils. Your young paleontologist will have loads of fun! My young kids look forward to the experiments, and I look forward to having the supplies in the box. Any common household items needed, but not supplied, are clearly identified.

Review: Young Scientists Set 2 - Weather, States of Matter, Volcanoes

2006-11-07T21:39:20-08:00

The young scientist club provides all the supplies you need as well as kid friendly handouts and helpful teacher notes. This kit includes the dream of every kid: making a volcano! My young kids look forward to the experiments, and I look forward to having the supplies in the box. Any common household items needed, but not supplied, are clearly identified.

Review: Young Scientists Set 1 - Recycling, Scientific Measurements, Magnets

2006-11-07T21:32:52-08:00

The young scientist club provides all the supplies you need as well as kid friendly handouts and helpful teacher notes. The magnet experiments in this kit were enjoyed by all my kids, but recycling and measurement cover basic ideas. If science is a new area for your kids, this is a good place to start. If your kids have been exposed to scientific methods, you might rather start with Set 3: Minerals, Geodes, Fossils.

Review: The Mathematics Calendar 2007: Discovering the Beauty, Intrigue and Influence of Mathematics

2006-10-23T16:21:21-07:00

Along with an interesting topic to learn about each month, problems of different skill levels are given for every day of the year. The diligent problem solver will quickly observe that the answers to the problems are the same as the date. Still often it is quite a challenge to determine why that is the answer!

Review: ThinkFun Inc. Grid Works Game

2006-09-07T21:32:14-07:00

Sharpen your logical thinking skills with gridworks! Working through this series of challenges, from warm-up to expert, will boost your skills and your confidence. As you consider the given visual clues, both positive and negative, you move magnets to fill in the grid correctly. This spiral bound book is ideal to take on the road. I bought this book as a gift for our seventh grader, but the younger kids (and adults) were just as eager to work through it when he finished. Complete the grid. Deduce the answer! You will learn to love logic.

Review: Soma Cube - Colorful Puzzle Cube

2006-07-19T21:39:57-07:00

This is a colorful wooden version of the classic soma cube puzzle. Your young puzzler will learn about spatial relationships in a tangible way. With all 7 unique pieces, each of which is made of 3 or 4 cubes, the basic puzzle is to form a 5 by 5 by 5 cube. The plastic set in Block by Block 3D Puzzle presents additional soma cube challenges.

Review: Block by Block 3D Puzzle

2006-07-19T20:09:54-07:00

Place the 3-D puzzle pieces to form 3-D structures. The soma cube is made of 7 pieces each of which is made of 3 or 4 cubes. The basic puzzle is to form a 5×5 cube from the 7 pieces. Block by Block comes with 60 cards of extra challenges to face. Clues will help you build the given structure even when you might feel stumped. The whole family can work on their spatial skills as they actually see and feel the pieces and then finally move the soma cube pieces from place to place. Soma Cube – Colorful Puzzle Cube is a wooden version of the original cube puzzle without the extra puzzles.

Review: TwinLab - Ultra Fuel - Blue Rasberry, 18 fl oz drinks, Buy it at The Vitamin Shoppe and Enjoy FREE Shipping on $75 purchase - Limited time offer!

2006-07-11T17:10:45-07:00

For the child who needs extra calories to gain weight and refuses dairy, chocolate, and shakes! It tastes like gatorade.

Review: Interlocking Unit Cubes

2006-03-02T06:41:28-08:00

I originally purchased these to be used with the primary level of the “Building Thinking Skills” series. I was surprised to see how much even the older kids enjoyed playing with them, making shapes, and solving simple arithmetic problems. We also use them to illustrate volume and surface area problems.

Review: Subtraction Wrap Ups

2006-02-21T06:49:54-08:00

To quickly review those subtraction facts, solve 10 subtraction questions on a plastic key and connect the problem (on the left) to the correct answer (on the right) with a string. By flipping over the plastic key, students can check their own answers by making sure the strings line up with the answer key.